Get tested with Superpower

If you’ve been postponing blood testing for years or feel frustrated by doctor appointments and limited lab panels, you are not alone. Standard healthcare is often reactive, focusing on testing only after symptoms appear or leaving patients in the dark.

Superpower flips that approach. We give you full insight into your body with over 100 biomarkers, personalized action plans, long-term tracking, and answers to your questions, so you can stay ahead of any health issues.

With physician-reviewed results, CLIA-certified labs, and the option for at-home blood draws, Superpower is designed for people who want clarity, convenience, and real accountability - all in one place.

Key benefits of HDL Size testing

• Reveals whether your "good" cholesterol particles are large and protective or small.
• Spots hidden cardiovascular risk even when total HDL cholesterol looks normal.
• Flags metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance before they cause organ damage.
• Guides personalized diet and lifestyle changes to improve cholesterol particle quality.
• Tracks how well interventions are shifting your HDL toward healthier, larger particles.
• Clarifies why standard lipid panels may miss your true heart disease risk.
• Best interpreted with apoB, triglycerides, and glucose markers for complete metabolic insight.

What is HDL Size?

HDL size refers to the physical diameter of high-density lipoprotein particles, the cholesterol carriers often called "good cholesterol." These particles are not all the same size. They range from small, dense spheres to large, buoyant ones, and this variation matters biologically.

HDL particles are assembled in the liver and intestine, then remodeled constantly as they circulate. They pick up excess cholesterol from tissues and artery walls and shuttle it back to the liver for disposal.

Bigger isn't always better in cholesterol transport

Larger HDL particles are generally more mature and efficient at reverse cholesterol transport, the process that removes cholesterol from the body. Smaller HDL particles are newer or less lipid-enriched and may be less protective.

HDL size reflects how well your body is managing cholesterol recycling. It offers insight beyond total HDL cholesterol number, revealing the functional quality of these particles. Measuring size helps clarify cardiovascular risk in a more nuanced way.

Why is HDL Size important?

HDL size reflects how effectively your cholesterol-clearing particles work. Larger HDL particles are more efficient at pulling cholesterol from artery walls and transporting it to the liver for removal, a process called reverse cholesterol transport. Smaller HDL particles are less effective and may signal inflammation or metabolic dysfunction that weakens cardiovascular protection.

Smaller particles mean weaker protection

When HDL particles shrink, they lose their ability to scavenge cholesterol efficiently. This often accompanies insulin resistance, prediabetes, or metabolic syndrome. Women with polycystic ovary syndrome and men with central obesity commonly show this pattern. The result is higher cardiovascular risk despite seemingly normal HDL cholesterol levels.

Larger particles clear cholesterol better

Larger HDL particles excel at removing excess cholesterol from tissues and blood vessel walls. They also carry antioxidant and anti-inflammatory proteins that protect arteries. People with predominantly large HDL tend to have lower rates of heart disease, even when total HDL cholesterol is modest. This size advantage appears across all ages and both sexes.

Size connects metabolism and heart health

HDL size integrates signals from glucose metabolism, inflammation, and lipid processing. Small HDL often clusters with high triglycerides, elevated blood sugar, and increased abdominal fat. Over time, this constellation accelerates atherosclerosis and raises stroke risk. Tracking HDL size helps identify hidden cardiovascular vulnerability that standard cholesterol panels miss, offering a window into how well your body manages metabolic and vascular health together.

What do my HDL Size results mean?

Low values usually reflect smaller, denser HDL particles

Low values indicate that your HDL cholesterol is carried in smaller, denser particles. These smaller particles are less efficient at reverse cholesterol transport, the process that removes excess cholesterol from tissues and blood vessel walls. Small HDL is often seen alongside insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome, elevated triglycerides, and chronic inflammation. It may also appear during periods of oxidative stress or when the body is managing high glucose levels. Women tend to have larger HDL particles than men at baseline, so sex-specific interpretation is important.

Being in range suggests efficient cholesterol clearance

Optimal HDL size reflects larger, more buoyant particles that perform reverse cholesterol transport effectively. These particles help maintain vascular health and support anti-inflammatory and antioxidant functions. Larger HDL is generally associated with better metabolic health and lower cardiovascular risk, independent of total HDL cholesterol concentration.

High values usually reflect larger, more protective HDL particles

High values indicate predominantly large HDL particles, which are considered the most cardioprotective subtype. This pattern is common in people with favorable metabolic profiles, lower triglycerides, and good insulin sensitivity. Very high values are rarely concerning and typically reflect robust HDL function.

Context matters for accurate interpretation

HDL size shifts with metabolic state, diet composition, weight changes, and hormonal fluctuations. Pregnancy, menopause, and certain medications can alter particle distribution. HDL size is best interpreted alongside triglycerides, glucose markers, and total HDL cholesterol concentration.